Immunotherapy and surgery for adenosquamous lung cancer with brain metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: PD-L1 positive; no actionable mutations on next-generation sequencing.

After chemotherapy, 19 cycles of pembrolizumab, and right middle lobectomy, she was off immunotherapy and under observation in remission.

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Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery for lung cancer that spread to the foot

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+

Biomarkers: PD-L1 20%; no actionable mutations on next-generation sequencing.

She had a significant response after four cycles of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab, and the resected lung nodule contained fibrosis and scar without carcinoma; further systemic treatment and radiation were under consideration.

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Lung Cancer Metastases to Both Kidneys Causing Kidney Failure

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: PD-L1 highly expressed

Metastatic Site: brain|bilateral kidneys|lungs

The cancer progressed in both kidneys and lungs despite treatment, causing dialysis-dependent kidney failure. He later developed severe respiratory illness and died 5 days after readmission.

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Strong Response to Pembrolizumab-Based Therapy for Pleomorphic Lung Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage III

Biomarkers: EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; PD-L1 TPS 90%-100%.

A marked response followed four combination cycles, and maintenance pembrolizumab remained ongoing seven months after treatment began.

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Pembrolizumab Controlled Metastatic Pleomorphic Lung Cancer After Chemotherapy Failed

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR-negative; ALK-negative; ROS1-negative; BRAF-negative; PD-L1 TPS 60%-70%; BRCA2, and TP53 mutations; tumor mutation burden 42 mutations/Mb; no actionable alteration.

Metastatic Site: right adrenal gland; left adrenal gland; bone

Tumor diameter had decreased at 11 months, and pembrolizumab remained ongoing at 12 months.

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Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Rachel's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Rachel Chua Bradley, Female, 50s

As of April 2021, Rachel had completed treatment for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer, was not on maintenance cancer medication, and returned to MD Anderson every 6 months for checkups.

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Severe headache during chemotherapy for small-cell lung cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s

After the regimen change, he completed five chemotherapy cycles, remained free of severe headache, and had improvement in chest pain, cough, and breathing.

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Delayed SMART syndrome after radiotherapy for small-cell lung cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Her small-cell lung cancer remained in remission 12 years after treatment, although she developed SMART syndrome as a delayed complication of cranial irradiation.

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Cancer Survivor Story: Navigating Life with Lung Cancer (3/3)

Patient Info: Montessa Lee, Female, Under 40

As of March 2021, Montessa was a small cell lung cancer survivor and patient advocate after chemotherapy, radiation, and brain radiation; no cancer-free/NED claim or metastatic site was stated.

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Cancer Survivor Story: How I Got Through Chemo & Radiation (2/3)

Patient Info: Montessa Lee, Female, Under 40

As of March 2021, Montessa had gone through chemotherapy, radiation, and brain radiation for small cell lung cancer and was speaking as a survivor/advocate; no NED claim was stated.

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Cancer Survivor Story: How I Got Diagnosed with Lung Cancer (1/3)

Patient Info: Montessa Lee, Female, Under 40

As of March 2021, Montessa was sharing how she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer at age 28 and later became a survivor/advocate after chemotherapy, radiation, and brain radiation.

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Stage III KRAS Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Terri's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Terri Conneran, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: KRAS-mutated; PD-L1 level reviewed/tested

As of March 2021, Terri had Stage IIIA KRAS-mutated NSCLC with 3 local recurrences treated over time and had again reached no evidence of disease while continuing close surveillance and advocacy through KRAS Kickers.

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A painful scalp metastasis from sarcomatoid lung cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No targetable mutations identified; CAM5.2-positive; p63-positive; CD10-positive; vimentin-positive.

Metastatic Site: chest wall and rib; liver; right gluteal region; scalp…

Her disease progressed with a further liver lesion and additional metastatic complications, and systemic treatment was stopped because of severe immune-related toxicity and the absence of targetable mutations.

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Lung adenocarcinoma first detected through an adrenal metastasis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No driver mutations identified.

Metastatic Site: left adrenal gland

After resection of the adrenal metastasis, postoperative imaging showed further thoracic uptake and he began palliative chemotherapy for metastatic lung adenocarcinoma without identified driver mutations.

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Lung adenocarcinoma with intestinal pseudo-obstruction and Stauffer syndrome

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage III

After three chemotherapy courses, the lung tumor had partially responded, intestinal pseudo-obstruction improved, biliary enzyme levels fell, and he continued follow-up as an outpatient.

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Low-dose intrapleural therapy relieved a complex malignant pleural effusion

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation-negative; ALK alteration-negative; ROS1 alteration-negative.

Metastatic Site: pleura; adrenal gland; bone

The lung cancer had progressed after initial chemotherapy, but rescue treatment of the infected loculated pleural effusion drained 2,000 mL, resolved the collection, and improved her breathing and fever.

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Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer with acquired haemophilia

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Synaptophysin weakly positive; Ki-67 greater than 90%.

Her small cell lung cancer remained stable on imaging one month before her death, which followed aseptic meningitis after intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for autoimmune myasthenia gravis.

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A regressed choroidal metastasis during EGFR-targeted lung cancer treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion.

Metastatic Site: liver; bone; central nervous system; right choroid

The right choroidal metastasis appeared inactive and regressed during systemic treatment, visual acuity remained 20/20, and no local eye treatment was required.

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NRG1-Fusion Lung Cancer With a 24-Month Response to Afatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: NRG1 fusion; KRAS/EGFR/ALK/ROS1/ERBB2 alterations not detected

Metastatic Site: left lung

Her cancer progressed during atezolizumab, and she died in May 2019.

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Metastatic NRG1-Fusion Lung Cancer Responding to Long-Term Afatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: CD74-NRG1 fusion

Metastatic Site: lungs

As of February 2020, she remained on afatinib 30 mg daily with an ongoing partial response after 27 months.

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Recurrent NRG1-Fusion Lung Cancer After Surgery and Immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: SDC4-NRG1 fusion

He chose no further treatment after rapid progression on afatinib and died shortly afterward in hospice.

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Stage IV Mucinous Lung Cancer Treated With Afatinib and Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CD74-NRG1 fusion; ALK/ROS1/EGFR/BRAF/KRAS/MET/HER2 wild type; PD-L1 initially not expressed and later 0%-20%

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs|bone|right adrenal gland

She was alive and receiving treatment after bone and right-adrenal progression at the latest follow-up.

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Recurrent Mucinous Lung Cancer With Dose-Dependent Afatinib Responses

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: SDC4-NRG1 fusion; PD-L1 not expressed; low tumor mutation burden

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs

She had progressive lung disease after several targeted-treatment attempts and was receiving paclitaxel with bevacizumab as of February 2020.

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Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Saila's Patient Story

Patient Info: Saila Hanninen, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation

After progression on earlier EGFR-directed treatment and other therapies, Saila began chemotherapy and her cancer was stable at the time of the story.

Dana-FarberRead more →